25 Things to Clean Before the Holidays

The holidays have a way of sneaking up on you.

One minute you’re enjoying the first cool days of fall, and the next you’re pulling decorations out of storage, planning Thanksgiving dinner, buying gifts, and realizing people are going to be coming over to your house.

Suddenly, you’re noticing everything.

The fingerprints on the refrigerator.

The dusty baseboards.

The mystery crumbs hiding between the couch cushions.

The guest bathroom you haven’t looked closely at in months.

Before you panic and decide the entire house needs to be scrubbed from top to bottom, here’s the good news:

It doesn’t.

When you’re cleaning before the holidays, focus on the spaces your family and guests will actually use.

Nobody coming over for Thanksgiving is going to inspect the back corner of your bedroom closet.

Instead, tackle these 25 things before the holiday season gets into full swing, and you’ll have a clean, comfortable home that’s ready for decorating, cooking, guests, and everything else the next few months bring.

1. The Front Door

Start where your guests will.

Take a look at your front door and entry from the perspective of someone arriving at your house.

Wipe down the door.

Clean the glass.

Remove cobwebs around the frame and porch lights.

Shake out or replace the doormat if necessary.

Wipe down the door handle.

Then sweep the porch or entry area.

You don’t need an elaborate holiday display to make the entrance feel welcoming.

Sometimes a clean door, fresh mat, and simple wreath are enough.

2. The Entryway

Once people walk through the door, where are all those coats, boots, purses, and bags going?

Clean and declutter your entryway before the holidays.

Put away anything that doesn’t need to be there.

Vacuum or mop the floor.

Clean the baseboards.

Wipe down benches or tables.

Then make sure you have some extra space for guests’ belongings.

If your coat closet is completely full, now is the time to deal with it—not five minutes before everyone arrives.

3. The Coat Closet

Remove coats nobody is currently wearing and relocate seasonal or rarely used items.

Get rid of broken hangers.

Move shoes and miscellaneous clutter out of the way.

Vacuum the floor.

Then leave several empty hangers available for guests.

It’s such a small detail, but it’s much nicer than piling everyone’s coats on a bed.

4. The Refrigerator

This one needs to happen before holiday grocery shopping.

Take everything out one shelf at a time.

Throw away spoiled food and anything that is no longer safe to eat.

Wipe shelves, drawers, and interior walls.

Clean sticky jars and bottles before putting them back.

Then organize similar foods together.

You’ll gain valuable refrigerator space for holiday ingredients, desserts, party trays, and leftovers.

5. The Freezer

Don’t forget the freezer.

Go through everything and identify foods that should be used soon.

Throw away anything that is no longer safe to eat.

Wipe up spills and organize what remains.

If possible, create a little extra freezer space.

You’ll appreciate it when you’re trying to fit make-ahead dishes, frozen desserts, and holiday leftovers inside.

6. The Oven

If your oven hasn’t had a good cleaning in a while, tackle it before the holiday cooking marathon begins.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning your particular oven.

Remove baked-on spills and debris that could smoke or smell when you’re cooking.

Don’t wait until the night before Thanksgiving to run a major self-cleaning cycle for the first time.

Give yourself plenty of time in case you discover an issue.

7. The Stovetop

Degrease the stovetop and clean burners or grates according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Pay attention to the area around the controls where grease and food splatters tend to accumulate.

If you have a glass cooktop, use products and tools specifically designed for that surface.

A clean stovetop instantly makes the entire kitchen look better.

8. The Range Hood

Look up.

When was the last time you cleaned the range hood?

Grease can build up on the hood and filter over time.

Wipe down the exterior and clean or replace filters according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

With all the extra holiday cooking ahead, this is a great time to make sure your kitchen ventilation is ready.

9. The Microwave

Holiday leftovers are going to spend plenty of time in here.

Wipe down the inside of the microwave, including the ceiling and door.

Remove and wash the turntable if your model allows it.

Then clean the exterior and handle.

It’s one of those five-minute jobs that makes the kitchen feel significantly cleaner.

10. The Dishwasher

Your dishwasher is about to work overtime.

Clean the filter if your model has a user-serviceable filter.

Wipe around the door seal.

Remove any visible debris.

Run a cleaning cycle if recommended by the manufacturer.

Then make sure you have plenty of dishwasher detergent on hand.

Running out after a holiday dinner is not ideal.

11. Kitchen Cabinets

You probably don’t need to empty and scrub every kitchen cabinet before the holidays.

Focus on what people can see.

Wipe down cabinet fronts and handles, especially around the stove, sink, trash can, and other high-touch areas.

Grease and fingerprints can accumulate slowly enough that you stop noticing them.

Once they’re gone, the kitchen can look surprisingly refreshed.

12. The Pantry

You don’t need a Pinterest-perfect pantry.

You need one where you can find the cinnamon.

Throw away expired or unusable food.

Donate unopened, unexpired items your family won’t eat if they meet your local food shelf’s requirements.

Wipe down shelves as needed.

Then group baking supplies, canned goods, snacks, and other categories together.

Before shopping for holiday ingredients, take inventory of what you already have.

13. Kitchen Trash and Recycling Bins

Yes, the trash can itself needs cleaning occasionally.

Empty the bin.

Remove any debris from the bottom and clean it using an appropriate method for the material.

Do the same with your recycling bin if needed.

Then replace liners.

This can make a noticeable difference in kitchen odors.

14. Dining Table and Chairs

Your dining table may become the center of the house during the holidays.

Clear everything off.

Clean the table according to the manufacturer’s instructions for the finish.

Wipe chair backs, seats, legs, and any areas where hands regularly touch.

If you have upholstered dining chairs, vacuum them.

Then check whether you have enough seating for upcoming gatherings.

15. Dining Room Light Fixture

Here’s something guests are much more likely to notice than the inside of your closet.

The light fixture hanging directly over the dinner table.

Dust it carefully.

Clean glass shades or globes if appropriate.

Replace burned-out bulbs.

You’ll be surprised how much brighter the room feels.

16. The Living Room Couch

People are going to sit here.

Remove all the cushions.

Vacuum underneath them.

Vacuum the cushions and upholstery using the appropriate attachment and cleaning method for your furniture.

Spot clean stains according to the manufacturer’s care instructions.

Then put everything back together.

You may find enough change under the cushions to contribute to your holiday shopping budget.

17. Throw Blankets and Pillow Covers

Those cozy blankets everyone will be using during holiday movie nights?

Wash them.

Check the care labels first, then clean washable throw blankets and removable pillow covers.

Don’t forget pet blankets that live on the furniture.

Fresh textiles can make the entire living room feel cleaner and more inviting.

18. The Floors

You don’t necessarily need to deep clean every floor in the house.

Focus on high-traffic and guest areas.

Vacuum carpets and rugs thoroughly.

Vacuum underneath accessible furniture.

Sweep and mop hard floors.

Pay extra attention to the entryway, kitchen, dining room, living room, and guest bathroom.

If your carpets need professional cleaning, schedule it early enough that everything is completely dry well before guests arrive.

19. Baseboards in Main Living Areas

You don’t have to clean every baseboard in your home.

Pick the rooms guests will actually see.

A vacuum attachment or microfiber cloth can remove most dust quickly.

Focus on:

Entryway
Living room
Dining room
Kitchen
Guest bathroom

Then stop.

Nobody is inspecting the baseboard behind your dresser.

20. Windows in Main Living Areas

Holiday lights and decorations look even better when the windows aren’t covered in fingerprints and grime.

Clean the inside of windows in your main living spaces.

Wipe the window sills and frames.

Vacuum tracks if needed.

Clean glass doors too, especially patio doors that seem to collect fingerprints approximately four seconds after they’re cleaned.

21. The Guest Bathroom

If guests are coming over, this room deserves some attention.

Deep clean:

Toilet
Sink
Faucet
Mirror
Counter
Tub or shower if guests may use it
Floors
Baseboards

Then check the details.

Put out fresh hand towels.

Make sure there’s soap.

Stock extra toilet paper somewhere guests can easily find it.

Empty the trash.

And please make sure there’s a plunger.

It’s one of those things nobody wants to ask you for during Christmas dinner.

22. The Guest Bedroom

If anyone will be staying overnight, give the guest room a reset.

Wash the bedding.

Dust furniture.

Vacuum or mop the floor.

Clean mirrors.

Empty the trash.

Clear off the nightstand.

Make room in a closet or dresser if guests will be staying for several days.

You don’t need to turn your guest room into a luxury hotel.

A clean room, fresh sheets, extra blanket, and somewhere to charge a phone go a long way.

23. High-Touch Surfaces

Take a microfiber cloth and quickly work your way through the house.

Clean commonly touched areas such as:

Door handles
Light switches
Stair railings
Refrigerator handles
Cabinet pulls
Appliance handles
Remote controls

These areas can collect fingerprints and grime surprisingly quickly.

This is also an easy job to delegate to a child or teen who’s helping with the holiday cleaning.

24. Pet Areas

We love our pets.

Their smells?

Not necessarily.

Wash pet bedding according to the care instructions.

Clean food and water bowls.

Vacuum around feeding areas.

Clean litter boxes.

Vacuum pet hair from furniture.

Wash washable pet blankets.

If your pet has a favorite chair or couch cushion, pay extra attention to that spot.

People who don’t live with pets tend to notice pet smells before the people who do.

25. The Kitchen Sink

Finish with the kitchen sink.

After all your cleaning and holiday prep, give it a thorough scrub using products appropriate for the material.

Clean around the faucet and handles.

Clean the drain and garbage disposal according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Then clear everything off the surrounding counter.

There’s something about an empty, clean sink that makes the entire kitchen feel ready.

And you’re going to appreciate having it empty once holiday cooking begins.

Don’t Forget the Things Guests Actually Notice

It’s easy to panic before company comes over and start cleaning random things nobody will ever see.

Focus on what actually makes a house feel clean.

Guests are much more likely to notice:

A clean bathroom
An uncluttered entryway
Clean floors
Fresh towels
A clean kitchen
An empty sink
Comfortable seating
Fresh-smelling rooms

They’re probably not going to notice whether you organized your bedroom closet.

Spend your energy where it matters.

The 60-Minute Emergency Holiday Clean

What if someone announces they’re coming over tomorrow?

Forget the deep clean.

Set a timer.

15 Minutes: Kitchen

Load the dishwasher, clear the sink, wipe counters, and take out the trash.

15 Minutes: Living Room

Pick up clutter, straighten the couch, fold blankets, and vacuum the main area.

10 Minutes: Entryway

Put away shoes and coats, sweep or vacuum, and clear surfaces.

15 Minutes: Bathroom

Clean the toilet, sink, mirror, counter, and floor. Put out fresh towels and refill toilet paper.

5 Minutes: Final Sweep

Walk through the areas guests will see.

Dim the lights.

Turn on a lamp.

Put away the last few random things.

Done.

Your house doesn’t have to be perfect to welcome people into it.

A Two-Week Holiday Cleaning Schedule

If you have a little more time, spread everything out.

Two Weeks Before

Clean the refrigerator, freezer, oven, dishwasher, pantry, windows, guest bedroom, and other jobs that will stay relatively clean.

One Week Before

Clean the couch, wash blankets, dust light fixtures, clean baseboards, and tackle pet areas.

Two or Three Days Before

Clean floors, kitchen cabinet fronts, dining furniture, entryway, and high-touch surfaces.

The Day Before

Clean the guest bathroom, wipe kitchen counters, empty trash cans, put out fresh towels, and reset the living room.

The Morning of Your Gathering

Do one quick vacuum.

Wipe the bathroom sink.

Empty the kitchen sink.

Straighten pillows.

Light your favorite candle if you use them safely.

Then stop cleaning.

Don’t Clean Your Entire House for Other People

This may be the most important part of the entire holiday cleaning checklist.

You are allowed to close doors.

Your bedroom doesn’t need to be spotless.

Your kids’ rooms don’t need to look like magazine spreads.

The basement storage room can remain exactly as chaotic as it was yesterday.

Clean the spaces you’re going to use.

Make your home comfortable.

Then enjoy it.

The people coming to your house are coming to spend time with you—not conduct a white-glove inspection.

Give Yourself a Head Start on the Holidays

Holiday cleaning doesn’t have to mean spending an entire weekend scrubbing your house.

Start early.

Clean the refrigerator one night.

Do the oven another day.

Wash the throw blankets while you’re already doing laundry.

Clean the guest bathroom when you have 20 minutes.

Every little task you finish now is one less thing you’ll be frantically trying to do the night before everyone arrives.

Because when the holidays finally get here, the goal isn’t to have the cleanest house on the block.

It’s to have a home that feels comfortable, welcoming, and ready for the people you love.

Get the cleaning done.

Then put away the supplies, turn on the holiday music, make something delicious, and enjoy your home.